Humidifying apparatus



Dec. 26, 1944.

S. W. MEARS I IUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1.942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY va/uymrmdlzwb ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1944. s. w. MEARS HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1942 INVENTOR Dec. 26, 1944. 5 w MEARs 2,365,829

- HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2 6, 1944 STATE 8 PAT EN T O F F I C E HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 'Stowell W. Mears, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Bridgeport Brass Company, Bridgeport,

Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application September 17, 1342, Serial No.458,655

. 7 Claims. (Cl. 126-'--113) The present invention relates to apparatus for humidifying air and principally to means for using, such apparatus with hot water and hot air heating systems.

Humidifying apparatus of "the type comprising alpiperorconduit adapted to be connectedvin the heatingcline and which is in contact with humidif-ying, medium; forexample, being surrounded by an envelope; adapted to contain such humidifying.medium, whichlatter is evaporated bythe heatedmaterial passing through the pipe, cannot ordinarily be-=usedsuccessfully in hot water 011-11101, air-systems. Thereason for thislis that thehcat of the hot water orhot air available for passagathrough the pipe orconduit is insufficientwto vaporizethe conditioning medium in 'the-envelope at a-:rate-necessaryto properly hum-idifyatheatmosphere. It is necessary to pro- VidB': 'somemeans of obtaining a temperature Withi-n thepipe or conduit of at least the boiling point of the conditioning medium in theenvelope which; if Water; would; of course, ordinarily-be To providether necessary temperature in the pipe' or' conduit, a-novel arrangement including av-speci'al steam generator adapted to be usedas for example. in the combustion chamber of the boiler or-furnace. In the case of 'oil burning furpractical tou-tilizean ordinary'relief valve. This issobecause each time such valve vents or blows off, the water'from'thesystem is lost and, of course, has to be replaced. Such venting or blowing off-occurs very often in such a smallsystem. Thus the use of arelief valve requires fre quent replenishment of the lost water: and hence itmakes the'system undesirable.

One of the objects ofthis-invention is to provide asubstitute safety-relief means which will replace the relief valve andteliminate the problem of frequent replenishment without sacrificing any of the safety features of an ordinary relief valve.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a simplified steamsystem which renders-practical the utilization of humidifying apparatus with hot. waterv and=h0t airsystems'withoutthe; necessity, of exorbitantlyv expensive alterations in such systems.

Still another object of. the invetnion :is to provided adequate humidification systems for use with hot air and hot waterheating plants which willbe economical in operation andwhich will require a minimum'ofv attention.

'na'ces' the steam generator replaces several ofthe bricks in thecombustion chamber. Connections 'from the steam generator are made to the pipe or-conduit 'of the humidifying device in such way that an auxiliary "small steam heating system is provided which is. independent either of the hot air-system or oi-the hot water system and whose "sole purp0se is-to provide steam heating medium twice. during an entire heating season. 'l'his-is accomplishedj.-in-.partby the. provision. of a tight,

Tame-accomplishment of. the foregoing and such. other objects as may. hereinafter appear, thisinventionconsists of the novel construction and'arrangement of partstobe hereinafter described and then sought to be'defined in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and which show, merely for the purposes of illustrative-disclosure, preferred embodiments of the invention, itv being expressly,v understood, however, that various changes. maybe made in practice within the scope ofv the appended claims withoutdigressing from the inventive idea.

In, the drawings in which similar reference characters .denote corresponding parts:

Fig. Us a diagrammatic elevational View of one embodiment of the steam system showing one manner of connection to a humidifying apparatus;

. Fig. 2is atop .plan view of oneform of humidifying-apparatusfthat may beconveniently used with the steam system constituting the subject matter. of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical. section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direcciples of this invention showing specifically its.

application in a hot water heating system; and

Fig. '7 is a similar view of a modified system adapted for application with a hot air heating system.

Referring to the drawings and first to .Fig. 1, l denotes a conventional radiator which may be adapted for use with a hot water heating system.

. A humidifying device associated therewith is shown as supported above the floor Fin the space below the radiator. This humidifying apparatus I may be of any suitable type which involves the evaporation of conditioning medium by the use of steam or other similar heating medium in a conduit in contact with'said conditioning. me-

dium.

One form of suitable humidifier is shown in Figs. 2 .to 5 inclusive. It comprises a connector member l5 which has an inlet |6"and an outlet shape. The cross arm |8 'of the T terminates at its opposite ends respectively in the opening I 6 and the opening IT. The long arm l9 of member I5 is provided at its outer end with branches and 2| provid ng substantially Y-shape thereat. These branches have openings fitted with suitable couplings 20a, 2|a to which the respective legs 22. 23 of a substantially U-shape pipe conduit 24 are attached.

The entire member I5 is hollow and the long arm I9 is sub-divided into a separate upper chamber 25 and a se arate lower chamber 26by a partitioning member 21. The latter lies diagan upstanding rim 31b whose height is somewhat greater than the depthof basin 31.

Suitable end plates 38, 39, respectively, carried on the respective pipe legs 22, 23 adjacent their connection with the branches 20 of the connector l5, close off the ends of the channel or conduit 3|. Also, in the region of the U-bend, the outer wall 46 of the envelope extends vertically instead of being sloped and flared for simplicity of manufacture chiefly, A suitable cover plate 4| attached to the plate 36 covers over the exposed portion of the tube 24 at its U-bend. This plate 4|, however, is so shaped and admeasured as to leave a space 42 between its outer edge and the inner surface of wall 46 of the envelope to permit escape there of vapor as will be presently described.

A float tank 43 admeasured to fit in the space between the legs 22, 23 below the cover plate 36 is suitably supported therebetween. A conditioning medium such as water is adapted to be delivered to the basin 3! of the cover plate 36 through a delivery pipe 45. This delivery pipe is adapted to be connected to any suitable line of water supply 46. I

A suitable valve 41 in the water supply line 46 and suitably associated with the float tank is provided. This valve is controlled suitably through The connector member '5 generally has the agency of a float 48 within the float tank so that the conditioning medium delivered through the pipe to the cover 36 may be automatically controlled in response to the rate of evaporization of water or other conditioning medium from the envelope 30. The conditioning medium delivered to the basin 3'! spills over the edges thereof into the conduit 3| from whence it is evaporated by onally. in the embodiment shown, and extends from the end wall 28 to the opposite end wall 29 of the cross head I8. Opening |6 communicates with c amber 25. The chamber 25 in turn communicates directly with the leg 22 of the U- shaped conduit 24. The other leg 22 communicates directly with the chamber 26 and the latter in turn communicates directly with the opening l1. There is no passageway between the chamhere 26 and 25 inside the member l5. Thus any fluid such as steam entering the opening |6 must flow through chamber 25. the legs 22 and 23 of the U-pi'oe 24, the chamber 26 and thence through the opening I! of the member|5 or vice versa.

The pipe or conduit 24 is surrounded by an,

envelope 36. This envelope is substantially concentric about the legs 22, 23 and U bend of said pipe or conduit 24 and spaced from the outer walls thereof to provide a conduit 3| between said outer walls and the inner walls of said envelope.

The envelope is open at 3| a along its top and is providedwith the upwardly extending outer flange 32, which near its upper edge is bent outwardly to form a flared flange 33'. The envelope is also provided with an upwardly extending inner flange 34. A cover plate 36 having downwardly sloped edge flanges 36a extends across and joins the flange 34. This cover plate on its top face is provided with a shallow basin 31, for a purpose to be-presently described. The basin has an opening 31a. This opening is provided with velope so that the level of conditioning medium in the envelope is equalized with that in the float tank. As aresult, the level of the float 48 is responsive to the level of the liquid in the envelope 3| and, therefore, serves to control the opening and closing of the valve 41 through suitable coupling means to cause automatic feed of conditioning medium through the delivery pipe 45 t replenish that evaporated from the envelope. The construction or arrangement of the automatic means for controlling delivery of conditioning medium does not constitute a part f the present invention and may be'of any suitable type. It may,'for example, be that shown in the application' of Gregory Brown, entitled Humidifying apparatus and control therefor, about to be filed.

In adapting the humidifying device above described for use with a hot water system, the steam heating medium for the pipe or conduit 24 may be obtained as shown in Fig. 1.

A water heater 50 is inserted into the combustion chamber of the furnace B. In case this furnace is of the oil heater type the heater-- 56 may replace some of the bricks 5| in the com.- bustion chamber. The heater 56 is of any suitable type. It has a suitable inlet valve or faucet. 5.3 for filling it with water to the required level. A steam riser pipe or conduit 54 is suitablyconnected at 55-to the heater 56 and also at 56, to the opening I6 of the connectorm'ember150i humidifier A return flow pipe 51 is connected suitably to the opening I! of th member I5 and at 58 to a T-joint59, The T-joint is connected by a pipe 60 to a nipple 6| andthe latter, in turn, is connected by a pipe 62 to the heater Thus steam generated in the heater, 50 moves up wardly through the riser 54 through the connect- What is claimedis: i 1. In combination, a humidifier, a heating conduit within said humidifier and in contact with steam thereto, an overflow container locatedabove the level of said steam generator, a relief conduit connected to said generator'in a portion thereof containing water, and a siphon constituting'part of said relief conduit with its shorter leg extending into said overflow container and terminating adjacent the bottom thereof whereby excessive steam pressure will force temporary escape Of water from said steam generator heat of said conduit, steam generator means for heating said conduit with steam, said steam'generator means being independent of said firstnamed means, means connecting said steam generator means with said conduit for delivering generated steam thereto, an overfiow container located above the level of said steam generator means, a relief conduit comprising an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion of shorter length than the upwardly extending portion, said portions acting as a siphon,

' means connecting the upwardly extending portion of said relief conduit to said steam generator means adjacent the bottom of the latter, and said downwardly extending portion of said relief conduit extending into said overflow container and terminating adjacent, the bottom thereof, whereby excessive steam pressure will fo'rce water from said steam generator means through the portions of said relief conduit into said overflow container, and subsequent reduction of steam pressure Will return the said forced water to said generator by siphoning action provided by said portions of r said relief conduit.

3. In a heating system, a furnace, means therein for providing heating medium to said system, a humidifier, a heating conduit in said humidifier in contact with humidifying medium for evaporating the latter by the heat of said conduit, means for heating said conduit comprising an auxiliary water heater within said furnace for generating steam, said heater being independent of said first-named means, means connecting said .heater with said heating conduit for delivering steam thereto, return flow means connecting said heating conduit with said water heater for returning steam condensate to said heater, an overflowcontainer positioned above the level of said water heater, a relief conduit comprising an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion of shorter length than the upwardly extending portion, said portions being adapted to act as a siphon, means connecting the upwardly extending portion of said relief conduit to said. water heater below the level of water in the, water containing portionjthereof, and said downwardly extending portion of said relief conterminating adjacent the bottom thereof, whereby excessive steam pressure will force water from said heater through the portions of said relief conduit into said container, and subsequent reduction of steam pressure will return the water 'in said container to said heater by the siphoning action provided by said portions of said relief conduit.

4. In a hot water heating system, a furnace, means-within said furnace for heating hot water for the system, a humidifier, a heating conduit in said humidifier in contact with humidifying medium for evaporating the latter by the heat of said conduit, means for heating said conduit with steam comprising an auxiliary water heater within said furnace for generating steam, said steam generating means for the humidifier being independent of the hot water heating means within the furnace, a header connected to said heater, a common steam delivery and return flow conduit connecting said header with said heating conduit of said humidifier, an overflow container positioned above the level of said water heater, a relief conduit connected adjacent to the bottom of said header and below the level of water in said heater and extending upwardly to said overflow container, syphon means arranged at the upper end of said relief conduit and extending into said overflow container and terminating adjacent the bottom of the latter, whereby any excessive pressure of steam will force temporary escape of water from said heater through said relief conduit andsyphon means into said container, and whereby on termination of excessive pressure said syphon means will effect return flow of the temporarily escaped water in said container through said relie'f conduit to said header.

y 5. In a heating system, a furnace, means within said furnace to provide heating medium for said system, a humidifier, a heating conduit in said humidifier in contact with humidifying medium for evaporating the latter by the heat of'said conduit, means for heating said conduit with steam comprising an auxiliary water heater within said furnace for generating steam, said steam generator means being independent of said first-named means within said furnace, a header connected to said heater, a common steam delivery and return flow conduit connecting said header with said heating conduit of said humidifier, an overfiow container positioned above the level of said water heater, a relief conduit connected adjacent to the bottom of said header and below the level of water in said heater and extending upwardly to said overflow container,

syphon means arranged at theupper end of said relief conduit and extendin into said overflow container and terminating adjacent the bottom of the latter, whereby any excessive pressure of steam will force temporary escape ofwater from said heater through said relief conduit and syphon means into said container, and whereby on termination of excessive pressure said syphon means will effect return flow of the temporarily escaped water in said container through said relief conduit to said heater; and said relief conduit being coiled in a portion thereof to provide a steam trap.

6. In a hot air heating system, a furnace, a

, hot bonnet, a humidifier in said hot bonnet, a

duit extending into said overflow container and heating conduit in said humidifier in contact with humidifying medium for evaporating the latter by the heat of said conduit, means for heating said conduit with steam comprising a water heater within said furnace for generating steam. a header connected to said heater, a common steam delivery and steam condensate return flow conduit connecting said header with said heating conduit of said humidifier, an overflow container positioned above the level of said water heater, a relief conduit connected adjacent the bottom of said header and below the level of water in said heater and extending upwardly to said overflow container, siphon means arranged at the upper end of said relief conduit and extending into said overflow container and terminating adjacent the bottom of the latter, whereby any excessive pressure of steam will force temporary escape of water from said header through said relief conduit and said siphon means into said container, and whereby on termination of excessive pressure, said siphon means will effect automatic return flow of the temporarily escaped water in said container through said relief conduit to said header.

7. In a humidifying system for use with radiators or the like, a humidifier, a conduit in said humidifier in contact with a humidifying medium, means for supplying steam heat for said conduit, said means comprising a steam generator and means for delivering steam generated therein to said conduit, and safety relief means associated with said steam generator, said last named means including a relief conduit communicating with said steam generator adjacent the bottom thereof and extending upwardly above the level of said generator, and an overflow tank located above the level of said generator, said relief conduit being bent over in a portion thereof and extending to said tank with its free end terminating adjacent the bottom of said tank to act as a sipho'n, whereby excessive steam pressure will froce water from said steam generator through said relief conduit into said overflow tank, and subsequent reduction in pressure will return the said forced water to said generator by siphoning action provided by the bent-over portion of said relief conduit.

STOWELL W. MEARS. 

